Who We Are

Jennifer Brehler
  Director of Operations

Jennifer joined Asheville Humane Society in July 2008 as the Director of Operations. She currently serves on the Board of the North Carolina Animal Federation (NCAF). She has over 15 years of experience working in open admission shelters. Jennifer began her career in animal welfare working for the Michigan Humane Society where she served initially as an Adoption Counselor advancing to shelter management. In 2003 Jennifer left the Michigan Humane Society Detroit Shelter for Durham, North Carolina where she managed the daily operations of the Durham County Animal Shelter through private/public cooperation with Durham County Government and the Animal Protection Society of Durham. She has been instrumental in the smooth transition of both staff and animals during several shelter construction projects, most recently the opening of two new facilities at the Buncombe County Animal Care Campus in Asheville, North Carolina. Jennifer has transitioned staff, volunteers and the community through significant programming changes to greatly reduce the euthanasia of adoptable animals. Jennifer has a Bachelor's of Science in Humane Leadership from Duquesne University. Email Jennifer at jbrehler@ashevillehumane.org

Jim Fulton
  Director of Programs

Originally from Chicago, Jim holds a master's degree in theatre lighting design from the University of Connecticut and was a professor of theatre design at Rollins College in Orlando, FL. While in Florida he volunteered for the Orlando Humane Society, serving as the volunteer coordinator. After moving to Asheville, Jim volunteered at the Asheville Humane Society and eventually was hired as paid staff, holding the positions of Adoption Counselor, Office Manager, and Assistant Shelter Manger. Jim is a graduate of the Humane Society of the United States "Pets For Life" program and has taught regional workshops on animal behavioral assessments, adoptions programs and reducing animal stress in shelters. Email Jim at jfulton@ashevillehumane.org

Dr. Stuart Hovis
  Veterinarian

Dr. Hovis joined the team at Asheville Humane Society in October 2011. A graduate from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997, she has been a life-long animal lover. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences from Clemson University in South Carolina in 1992. Dr. Hovis was in general practice for one year before beginning her shelter medicine career at Greenville Humane Society in South Carolina in 1998. Since then she has been working with shelters and spay/neuter organizations including the Humane Alliance of Western North Carolina and many other local nonprofits throughout the Carolinas. She has trained veterinary surgeons around the United States in the Humane Alliance model of high volume, high quality spay/neuter procedures. While most of her work has been focused on the advancement of spay /neuter, she is now very excited to have an opportunity at Asheville Humane Society to assist in the daily care of orphaned animals. Email her at medical@ashevillehumane.org

Meghan Jordan
  Director of Development & Community Relations

Meghan joined Asheville Humane Society as Director of Development & Community Relations in 2011. Meghan brings nearly 25 years of public relations and nonprofit experience to her new position. She previously was Director of Communications for The American Chestnut Association, where she was responsible for all media and public relations efforts. Meghan also was Director of Youth and Member Services for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Washington,DC, where she wrote, designed and produced a national award-winning communications portfolio for the association's youth tour. As an events planner for Electronic Data Systems, she planned meetings and special events for corporate officials and visiting members of the U.S. Congress. A life-long animal lover, Meghan graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Communications. She and her family live in Asheville with a pug named Samuel Adams and a spaniel-dachshund-retriever puppy named Sophie, adopted from Asheville Humane Society. Email Meghan at mjordan@ashevillehumane.org

Heather Brannan
  Manager of Community Programs

In the true spirit of special event planners, Heather joined the Asheville Humane Society staff on her birthday in May of 2012.  A native of Los Angeles, California, Heather moved with her family to Asheville at a young age, where she traded in her surfboard for a mountain bike and quickly grew to love the area and the outdoor lifestyle that it offers.  Heather brings over 15 years of career experience in special events, public relations, and communications from a diverse background that includes the medical field, the hospitality industry, competitive sports arenas, and more.  Most recently she served as the Special Events Coordinator at The Biltmore Estate Equestrian Center and as the Special Events Manager at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. A lifelong animal lover, Heather also has extensive event and competition experience in the equestrian world, including years as a director of programs at summer camps, rated horse show management, international long-distance endurance event coordination, and more.  She also created and managed the Biltmore Equestrian Team program.  She currently competes on the circuit with her dressage horse, Warrior, and her hunter horse, Jovian. Heather lives in Asheville with rescue dog Bristol, her Asheville Humane Society "foster failure" Anderson, and the real man of the house, her black lab, Captain Jack. Email Heather at volunteer@ashevillehumane.org

Pam Burgess
  Adoption Center Manager

Pam joined the management team of Asheville Humane Society in September 2010 after spending nearly two years as a foster parent and volunteering with the photography club. Before combining her volunteer passion with her career, Pam spent 37 years in the restaurant industry. Twenty four of those years she spent in management during which time she developed comprehensive training programs and taught new managers. Pam has received numerous awards for excellence in guest services, sanitation, and increased sales profitability during her career. Pam has a Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Florida.Born in Cincinnati, Pam has spent much of her time in the Midwest and Florida before moving to Asheville in 2003. Email Pam at adoptions@ashevillehumane.org

Miranda Tipton
  Placement & Population Care Manager

Miranda Tipton is a lifelong resident of Asheville. She and her husband, Mark, began their involvement with Asheville Humane Society as foster parents in 2008. Miranda later joined the staff in 2010 as the Lost and Found Coordinator and developed the program to national-level attention with outstanding return-to-owner rates triple the national average. Miranda holds an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Medical Technology and is a registered veterinary technician with the state of North Carolina. She currently lives with her husband, four dogs (Izzy, Max, Chelsea and Baiden), three cats (Lily, Tikki and Ninja Kitty) and a rotation of furry foster animals. Email Miranda at mtipton@ashevillehumane.org

Paul Vis
  Animal Care & Logistics Manager

Paul Vis is originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he worked as a police officer for two years. In 1997, he moved to Asheville and worked as an Animal Control and Cruelty Investigator for three years with Asheville Humane Society. Paul then spent time as the Captain of the Buncombe County Rescue Squad. In 2012, Paul’s love of animals brought him back to Asheville Humane Society, where he worked as an Animal Caretaker Level II, and was quickly promoted to Animal Care and Logistics Manager. He shares his life with AHS “foster failure” Amos, a handsome Chihuahua mix that stole his heart. Email Paul at pvis@ashevillehumane.org                                                                                                         

Megan Collins
  Safety Net Coordinator

Megan came to the Asheville Humane Society in February 2008 as a volunteer due to her love of animals. She grew up on a horse farm in Black Mountain where she learned the art of showing horses with her Paint Horse, Supreme Blizzard. Over the years, the farm was also home to cows, goats, sheep, peacocks, a pot-bellied pig, a donkey, two dogs and a cat. Megan was hired as an animal caretaker in October 2008 and then promoted to Admissions Coordinator in May 2009. Megan resumed her collegiate studies in August 2010 and has been attending Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College working towards a Business degree. Megan returned to Asheville Humane Society in August 2012 as the Safety Net Coordinator for the Buncombe County Animal Shelter. Her position assists pet owners considering re-homing options and works toward keeping pets with their people. Megan shares her life with her Boxer, Jake and several fosters. Email Megan at mcollins@ashevillehumane.org

BreeAnn Keogh
  Transfer Coordinator

BreeAnn joined Asheville Humane Society July 2008 from the neighboring county of Transylvania. She has been volunteering with animal shelters since she was 12 years old. She graduated Brevard High School in 2007 with high honors and briefly attended Warren Wilson where she studied environmental science. BreeAnn was promoted to Transfer Coordinator in September 2010 and works with Animal Compassion Network and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, as well as other adoption placement partners. BreeAnn also serves as the SAFER assessor and conducts temperament tests for dogs. She shares her life with a three-legged hound mix (July), a Chihuahua mix (Little Huey) and a Mastiff (Bear). Email BreeAnn at transfer@ashevillehumane.org

Skye Kroman
  Programs Outreach Coordinator

After volunteering with her daughter at the new Animal Care Campus, Skye joined Asheville Humane Society in March 2011. Born in Virginia, she received her Bachelor's of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from the University of Florida and subsequently owned and operated a successful independent automobile dealership in South Florida for 11 years. Four hurricanes prompted relocation to Asheville in 2005, where she has tutored students at Cane Creek Middle School, coached for Girls-On-The-Run, life coached and provided motivational training for adults; all while renovating a log home. She shares her home, and occasionally office space, with Jake, a pit/shepherd mix who loves coming to work and greeting foster parents, as well as two cats and assorted foster kitties. Email Skye at skroman@ashevillehumane.org

Susan Prescott
  Development Assistant and Database Administrator

Susan Prescott, Development Assistant and Database Administrator, first came to Asheville Humane Society as a volunteer, entering data for volunteers and donations and fostering animals. She has had multiple careers in theatre, publishing and graphic design.  In addition to her part-time position at Asheville Humane Society, she works part time as a graphic designer for the publisher of Homes & Land Magazine. She loves being able to work in both worlds - and especially loves being able to bring her dog, Otis, to both jobs and have him sit behind her as she works. Email Susan at office@ashevillehumane.org


Heather O. Hayes
  Executive Assistant

Heather joined the Asheville Humane Society team as Executive Assistant in July 2012. Originally from eastern North Carolina, Heather grew up surrounded by a multitude of pets and began rescuing strays as soon as she was old enough to play outside. She graduated from NC State University and received a degree in Environmental Design in Architecture. She was also a recipient of the Park Scholarship, a full scholarship awarded on the basis of academics, leadership, service and character. At the Park Scholar graduation gala, Heather told a ballroom full of people that her future career goal was to become a "pet avenger." Working for AHS is fulfillment of that ambition. After graduating and moving to Asheville, Heather's design focus evolved from architecture to graphic design. She previously worked at architecture and landscape architecture firms, a newspaper, and a marketing/advertising firm. In addition to her part-time work with Asheville Humane Society, Heather has run her own freelance graphic design business, I Do Declare Design, since 2008. Heather and her husband Joel live in west Asheville with their large furry family of 4 cats (Ism, Boo, Peach and e.e. nubbins) and 4 dogs (Mia, Phinny, Jay-Z and Willowby G. Watson), all rescues. Email Heather at hhayes@ashevillehumane.org.


~:~